Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park covers 30,780 acres in Colorado. It became a national park on October 21, 1999, the 55th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 250,086 recreation visits in 2025, the 50th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Black Canyon of the Gunnison
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for South Rim Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Big enough to be overwhelming, yet still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time. Come see some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. Forces of nature and the Gunnison River sculpted this canyon over two million years. The result is a vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. 7-Day Vehicle Pass. Entrance fees cover all persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison: May and August to October. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: June, with about 52,874 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.5 times as many as April.
- Quietest month: December (5,569 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 8 hikes and 8 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 3 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to North Rim Ranger Station: Gas station (unnamed), 9.4 miles away. Closest airport Montrose Regional Airport (10 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike Rim Rock Trail - South Rim: This 1-mile (1.6 km) trail, which meanders along the canyon rim, connects the South Rim Visitor Center to the South Rim Campground.
- Hike Uplands Trail - South Rim: This .9-mile (1.4 km) trail links the Rim Rock Trail (near the campground) to the upper Oak Flat Loop Trail near the South Rim Visitor Center.
- Hike North Vista Trail - North Rim: Constructed by the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the North Vista Trail offers some of the best scenic views and birding in the park. Difficulty varies from moderate to strenuous based on distance.
- Hike Deadhorse Trail - North Rim: Deadhorse Trail takes hikers into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness Area. It offers good views of Deadhorse Gulch and East Portal on the Gunnison River, as well as good birding.
- Hike Chasm View Nature Trail - North Rim: This short loop trail breaks out of the pinyon/juniper forest at the North Chasm View to provide excellent views of Painted Wall and Serpent Point.
Webcams
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Today's Weather: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/l/NPBLCA:13:US CLIMATE Weather can vary greatly throughout the day. Summer daytime temperatures range between 55 to 90F (13 to 32C), nights 45 to 60F (7 to 16C). Winter daytime temperatures range between 15 to 40F (-9 to 4C), nights 10 to 20F (-12 to -6C). Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer. Snow accumulation varies greatly year to year. Layered clothing appropriate for the season is recommended.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Arches (Utah): about 3 h 40 min by car (183 miles)
- Mesa Verde (Colorado): about 3 h 50 min by car (157 miles)
- Canyonlands (Utah): about 3 h 55 min by car (190 miles)
- Great Sand Dunes (Colorado): about 4 h 30 min by car (199 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. 7-Day Vehicle Pass. Entrance fees cover all persons in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle.
What state is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in?
Colorado.
When did Black Canyon of the Gunnison become a national park?
October 21, 1999.
How many people visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
250,086 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison?
May and August to October. June is the busiest month and April the quietest while the park is fully open.
